Modern Microfarm to Market Consulting

State of the Soil, Portland, OR

Portland Oregon

That’s PDX to you-

When The State of the SoilVirtual Summit set out to be the best resource for small farm marketing ever we knew we needed to do our summit interviews face to face. We wanted conversations that would have been missed with webinar style interviews. We wanted additional footage & photographs. I wanted to experience the market, and boy- did Portland, Oregon over deliver.

Our Portland, Oregon agenda

I had followed Stacey Givens’ farm: The Side Yard Farm since before I ever started Victory Gardens. Her take on non-traditional offerings always appealed to me. Over the years her farm events have inspired me at every turn. I knew making that trip for that one interview would make a huge impact on the summit. When I reached out, Stacey was receptive & made herself available to me at her farm for one of the best hours of farm, food, and life talk I could have ever hoped for.

This is a story about farming, life, struggles, and triumph that we can all learn from.

No spoiler alerts here, but you do not want to miss this interview at The State of the Soil Virtual Summit.

Stacey Givens, The Side Yard Farm. Portland, Oregon.

I also had an extra day & wanted to interview another market vendor. Throughout this process, I have been able to find great people to share their story. While at Lents International Market, I was fortunate to have met Genevieve Flanagan of The Urban Acre Homestead. Her booth is everything I want to see at a market and after a few minutes of talking about her farm I knew it would be an inciteful interview.

What I did not expect was the level of careful consideration Genevieve had in her words, her farm, the market she goes to, and local food in general. I was so taken aback at times during the interview by her depth of knowledge and ease of storytelling, that I knew this was a farmer who’s story must be told at all costs. We are all fortunate this chance meeting took place & again, this interview will be a must watch over & over again to catch all of the lessons.

Genevieve Flanagan, The Urban Acre Homestead. Portland, Oregon.

Portland, Oregon Farmer’s Markets

PDX Farmer’s Markets are sensory overload. This is a community that supports their farmers. And, these are farmers and craftsmen & women who are masters at their agricultural profession. The food, displays, art, and music was like a living museum.

In my short four-day Portland Marathon, in addition to the two interviews, I was fortunate to experience PSU’s Saturday Market, Lentz International Market, and the Saturday Market downtown Portland by the waterfront.

It was an experience I will never forget. Portland, your http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org vendors, staff, and community support is something farmers and communities everywhere need to strive for. It was my sincere pleasure to experience your city.

Portland, Oregon’s Nobel Rot Restaurant & Roof Top Garden

By the time I landed in Portland I had been on the road about a week on a trip that started in Dallas, went to Portland, Maine, then up into northern Maine, Down to Hartford, then a red eye to Portland, Oregon. It was time to spoil myself.

Nobel Rot, formerly Rocket, was where Stacey started years ago, so I wanted to experience it. Sitting on the 4th floor of 1111 E. Burnside dramatic views of Portland from a perfectly lit bar made for a great couple of evenings.

Nobel Rot, Rooftop gardens at dusk. Portland, Oregon.

Nobel Rot was so good, that in a town full of world class chefs, staff, and menus I had to go back twice. Their craft cocktails were masterpieces, the vegetables for their salads, picked steps from the kitchen with house made vinaigrette, were hyper fresh & perfect, and the desserts- handcrafted to perfection. The day I went, their Instagram account showed them making scratch noodles by hand. So that was dinner.

A special shot out to Mychal & Josh for making me feel right at home on the road.

A Portland, Oregon behind the scenes look.

I took over 1200 pictures and shot over 4 hours of video these four days. At the Saturday market (on Sunday), I got to hear Hugh MacDonald perform at the farmers market main stage. I am excited and honored to announce that Hugh will be the exclusive musical voice & sound of The State of the Soil Virtual Summit.

Nick Burton, Founder: Growers Coach

Owner of multiple companies, public speaker, and coach of hydroponic & farm to market agricultural operations. With 20 years in the green industry we have the experience, resources, and connections to bring your farm to the next level of profit and sustainable operation.